End of a fashion era in Trim as Ninas to close doors
It's the end of an era in Trim as Ninas Fashions is preparing to close after 66 years in business with owner AnnMarie O'Donnell announcing her retirement. The boutique started by Ann Marie's mother, trailblazer Nina Cully revolutionised the way the women of Trim bought and wore fashion.
Originally from Killucan, Co Westmeath, Nina’s brother-in-law, the late John Smith of Navan, who ran a shoe shop on Market Square, introduced her to the McConville family, who offered her an apprenticeship in their drapery shop in 1939, when she was 21. In 1953 the opportunity arose for Nina to take over the business in her own name and she rose to the challenge. She married Kildare man Tom Cully that same year and together they started off family life in High Street.
She successfully ran her business in a leasehold premises on the north side of Market Street until in 1960 when she and Tom purchased Farrell’s pub opposite and converted it into the fashion store that trades there to this day. In 1970, Nina extended her premises to cope with the growing town and in the 1980s she was joined by her daughter Ann-Marie. Together, with the help of loyal staff, they grew the business further and doubled its size in 1990.
Ann Marie O'Donnell and daughter Charlotte with staff Orla Kennedy, Olivia Balfe, Kay Byrne and Linda Reilly. Missing from photo is Annette Donlon.
Nina was very progressive and introduced Trim to its first of many fashion shows in the 1960s. Always using professional models, compares like Grace O’Shaughnessy and Kathleen Watkins graced the stage in Trim Town Hall, which would be transformed beyond all recognition on the night.
Nina's daughter AnnMarie O'Donnell moved from banking and came to work for the family business in 1982 taking over from her mum. She remembers how Nina's forward-thinking ideas brought Trim into a new era.
"The shop made a huge impact on our street. It was a state of the art premises and very directional for Trim. I remember the girls who worked in the shop wearing mini skirts when they first came on the scene in the 60s, something that was quite radical all over the world let alone Trim.
Ann Marie has seen many changes in the fashion and retail industry over the years as she explains,
"When mum started out, all the stock was bought from wholesalers mostly in South Wiliam Street in Dublin but then it all changed because the wholesalers moved out and we started going to fashion fairs abroad. My mother used to be able to go into the wholesalers and buy the product, bring it home and get three months credit. Now I have to go and book it six months in advance and have it delivered six months later.
Gerry, Ann Marie and Charlotte O Donnell
Not only has buying stock changed but how people like to buy it,
"All the clothes were kept behind the counter and everything was in brown cardboard boxes and there was no such thing as carrier bags. The customer knew what she wanted and she came in and asked for it, then it moved on to customers needing to see it.
"So the first thing she did when she moved across the road here was to get lots of counters with glass tops and glass fronts so the customer could see the product and by the time I arrived in 1982 everybody wanted to feel the product.
"So we got rid of the counters and brought in rails and all of the product was hanging then it became a trend to start folding things. It's come full circle now with buying online you can neither see it or feel it!"
The Trim businesswoman puts down loyal staff and customers to the success of Ninas,
Customers have been coming in and sharing their memories of Ninas over the years
"We have great staff and always have had great staff. People comment that there has always been a lovely homely atmosphere in the place. We have had a lot of people into us in the last week who have shared their memories with us over the last few decades saying that they bought their communion dress or confirmation outfit with us.
"An elderly woman was in telling me how she dressed all her children here and bought every stitch she wore with us. There is no doubt that this business is a people business. We have had fabulous loyal customers.
"Even through the recession and there was some recession from 2008, we are eleven years passed the depth of the recession and thanks to loyal customers we have had a great eleven years. They stood by us through thick and thin.
"I haven't worked a day since I took Ninas over, I have loved it so much. I would like to thank all of the loyal customers for their support over the years, it was a pleasure to get to know them and do business with them and I hope they will come in to see us before we close."